Apparatus for the production of germicide, insecticide, and like gases.



, L. DURAND (II G. BOT'TIN.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GERMICIDE, INSECTICIDE, AND LIKE GASES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I1. I918.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919 Witne w UNITED STATES PAENT FFTQ.

LEON DURAND, OF PARIS, AND GEORGES BOTTIN', OF RUE TURPIN-ROMAIN'S,FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GERMICIDE, INSECTICIDE, AND LIKE GASES.

Application filed April 17, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEON DURAND, a citizen of the French Republic,residing at- Paris, in France, and GEORGES Bo'rTrN, a citizen of theFrench Republic, residing at Rue Turpin-Romans, in France, have inventedcertain new and useful Improved Apparatus for the Production ofGermicide, Insecticide, and like Gases, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improved apparatus for the production ofgermicide, insecticide and the like gases.

The improved apparatus produces germicide, insecticide and vermicidegases in abundant and penetrating quantities, sufficient to destroy allgerms, insects and noxious animals or those capable of conveyingcontagious maladies, this being efiected without altering the materialsand articles subjected to the action of these gases and with a completesecurity against any risks of fire.

It is chiefly applicable for:

1. Insecticide and vermicide.

2. Disinfection.

3. Disinfection and insecticide combined.

1.. Insecticide (destruction of insects) and oermicide (destruction ofrats and nowious animals).

In order to obtain these results the apparatus produces completesulfuration by an intensive combustion of the sulfur to the amount of atleast 80 grams per cubic meter, which quantity has hitherto not beenpossible to attain by direct combustion in the sulfuration chamber. Thisintensive combustion is obtained by means of several hearths, utilizingthe heat disengaged in each to bring the sulfur to the state of fusionand then to the gaseous state, this being combined with a draft causingcontinual renewal of air passing over the combustion point, by means ofa central flue and of separate circumferential ventilation holes foreach hearth.

By this method the room being closed the intense combustion draws allthe air in the room to the combustion hearths' part of the oxygen ofthis air is absorbed by the combustion, another part combines with thesulfurous gas; the partial vacuum which results from this absorbtion ofoxygen draws Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919. Serial No. 229,142.

the sulfurous gas into the smallest crevices which takes its place andof which the intimate penetration is further assisted by the agitationresulting from the force of the combustion.

Further the high temperature in the apparatus about 200 C. produces veryhot gases with consequent expansion. This expanslon g1ves the gasesgreater power of penetration.

Besides sulfur liquefied sulfurous anhydrld alone or combined withsulfur can be used in the apparatus for insecticide.

Disinfection.

The apparatus produces this result in three ways. v

(a) By sulfuration as described above for insecticide, but for a longerperiod.

(b) By heating a disinfectant capable of evaporation by heat such asformol in a receptacle situated on top of the upper reser- VOlI'.

(0) By combined sulfuration and disengagement of a disinfectant. In thiscase the combustion of the sulfur gives suflicient heat to evaporate thedisinfectant.

Insecticide and disinfection combined.

This is effected by sulfuration only or by sulfuration combined with thedisengage ment of a disinfectant.

It is to be noted that the gases produced are innocuous on substancesand objects submitted to their action this belng due to the quickness ofthe operation about 30 minutes for insecticide and about 1 hour forgermicide.

In order to make the gases more active and to oxidize them at the momentof their formation without having to introduce air from outside theroom, oxidizing products such as perborate of soda can be used whichdissociates freely under the action of heat, the nascent oxygen therebyproduced com-- bining with the sulfurous gases and assisting thecombustion.

The attached drawing illustrates in central section the apparatus whichis essentially composed of a base plate it intended for avoiding therisks of fire. On this plate is fixed by means of feet .7) a receptacle0 comprising three superposed trays c c 0 and two annular troughs g 9 Onthe annular trough g is poured a small quantity of alcohol, on the tray0 a small quantity of sulfur, and the tray 0 the proportion of sulfur inaccordance with the capacity of the room to be treated and the oxidizingsubstances.

The middle tray 0 has a central opening 0 traversed by a diametricalbar; its edges are turned up to prevent the sulfur in combustion fromfalling on the annular trough g other than through the small openings 0.The central. openings 0 also allow the passsage of the flames of thealcohol and also the gases.

The plate 0 is provided centrally with a sleeve forming a fiue 0 for thepurpose of intensifying the draft and at the same time preventing thefall of the sulfur in fusion from the plate 0 to the annular trough gThis sulfur in fusion can fall drop by drop in the annular trough g bysmall holes 0 provided in the base of the plate 0 The walls of the trays0 and c are provided with a certain number of air holes 0 In order toincrease the draft of the apparatus and modify the nature of the gasproducts a jacket (Z is superposed on the receptacle 0. This jacket hason the inside, near its upper part, a truncated cone-shaped reservoir (Zending in a central bellmouthed chimney d which is a continuation of thecentral openings of the middle and top trays c and 0 in order toregulate the draft, which stirs the surrounding air by constantlydrawing same over the combustion hearths or trays.

The reservoir 65 is closed at the top and has three outlet pipes cl".The jacket d is provided on its lower rim below the reservoir d and inproximity to the top of tray 0 with holes al intended to complete thecombination of the air drafts and to admit into the upper part of thestove-which is limited by the top tray 0 the jacket (Z, reservoir dchimney d and the plate f hereafter described-a certain amount of airwhich further oxidizes the gases which are given off and escape over thesides through the chimney (Z to be again stirred by the traction of thedrafts.

The truncated-cone-shaped reservoir d is intended to receive, as thecase may be, either liquefied sulfurous anhydrid used alone or combinedwith sulfur or a disinfectant capable of evaporating under heat.

When the disinfectant is used in combina tion with sulfur, the heatemitted by the combustion of the sulfur suffices to evaporate theproduct placed in the reservoir (Z When the disinfectant is used alone,the evaporation of the products placed in the said reservoir (Z isobtained by means of the heat generated by the combustion of a certainquantity of alcohol poured into a movable annular tray 6 mounted on feet6 resting on the plate 0 and being inclosed inside the jacket d in orderto heat the conical bottom of the reservoir (P.

On this jacket cl rests by means of feet 7 a small plate f, which partlycloses the whole 0 -(Zd d The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

1. For insecticide and vermicide by means of sulfur:

(a) Take the cubic measurements of the room and place the apparatus inthe middle of the place to be disinfected, after having stopped up thechinks of the issues.

(6) Then pour about 40 cubic centimeters of alcohol into the annulartrough g (0) Put about to 80 grams of porous sulfur on the plate 0 (d)Place on the plate 0 the amount of sulfur corresponding to the cubicarea of the room in the proportion of about 80 grams to the cubic meter.

(6) Introduce the oxygen producing substance on the plate 0 (f) Kindlethe alcohol. This ignites the sulfur on the plate 0 which heats theplate 0 whereon the sulfur is liquefied, ignited, and flows drop by dropon to the plate 0 where it finishes burning.

The total operation lasts from 30 to 35 minutes.

2. For insecticide and vermicide by means of sulfur and liquefied andsulfurous anhydrid combined:

(a) Process as above, taking into account that the reduction of a givenquantity of sulfur on the approximate weight of 80 grams per cubic meterwill be compensated by a corresponding quantity of liquefied sulfurousanhydrid.

( 6) Put the latter into the reservoir (1 (a) Start the operation bykindling the alcohol.

In these two operations the annular tray 6 should be removed so as notto interfere with the draft through the holes (Z 3. For insecticide orvermicide by means of liquefied sulfurous anhydrid alone put a smallquantity of alcohol into the annular tray 6 and the anhydrid into thereservoir (Z then ignite the alcohol.

4. For disinfection alone:

1. By means of the vapors of formic aldehyde:

(a) Place the alcohol in the annular tray 6.

(Z2) The formol or trioxymethylene in the reservoir 6?.

(c) Ignite the alcohol.

2. Proceed thus for any other disinfecting product capable ofevaporating. V

5. For combined insecticide and disinfection:

(a) Place the alcohol and the sulfur, as

above said, in the body of the apparatus containing the parts 0 c 0 (6)Place the formol or any other disinfectant in the reservoir (1 removethe a11- nular tray 6.

(a) Place the oxygen-emitting product on the plate 0 What we claim asour invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is 1. An apparatus for germicidal and insecticidal purposescomprising a chamber closed at the base and open above and having airadmission orifices arranged in three stages in its side wall, removableannular trays in said chamber between first and second and between thesecond and third air orifice stages respectively, said trays having eacha row of small orifices in their bases, and annular troughs below saidorifices substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An apparatus comprising the features set forth in claim 1, togetherwith a further annular jacket adapted to be placed on the top of saidchamber and havin outlets to the annular space in said jacket for thepurpose set forth.

In witness whereof we have signed this specification in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

LEON DURAND. GEORGES BOTTIN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. P. PRnssLY, D. AMY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). O.

